Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **Forrest747** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:00 pm

Has anyone ever put usb 5 volt ports for cell phone and other devices. Thinking about putting a couple of them in with 5 volt power supplies.

by **parnold** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:06 pm

I have a 12v cigarette lighter socket in my trailer so I can charge my phone, or plug in a power inverter to get 120v.

by **absolutsnwbrdr** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:23 pm

I put a USB port and a 12V outlet in my last teardrop. My new one will have the same. Came in handy a few times to charge my Ipod.

I went to Advance Auto and picked up one of their 12V outlet extensions that has USB port on it as well. The one I hacked up, had two 12V outlets and 1 USB port. I tore it apart and epoxied one of the 12V outlets and the USB outlet to the back of a modified electrical faceplate.

The USB ports that you can get from the auto parts store already have the circuitry to take the 12V power down to 5V, so its pretty easy.

by **Moho** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:57 pm

I'd suggest Zach's approach, a panel mount USB port will be about $15.00 + from Mouser, Allied, etc. ( http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Switchcraft/EHUSBBAX/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMulM8LPOQ%252byk6T9Vo74lLiwYK0XLlGZU5o%3d ) You will then have to create the 5v power which would involve more cost. I would assume that the one Zach hacked up would be pretty cheap.

Or just get an adapter for like $5.00 http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=auto+usb+adapter&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=17714212292371662158&sa=X&ei=NSb5TpbvOcnmggel153XDA&ved=0CKEBEPICMAI#

by **afreegreek** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:11 am

I bought a car charger for my Iphone.. it's a 12v cigarette lighter on one end and a usb port on the other.. no wire, just the plug in part 'cause you use the usb wire that comes with the Iphone.. it was $12.. out of curiosity I tried my LED map light with it and the light worked just fine, then decided to leave it on all night and it was still fine.. I thought that because it was a charger it wouldn't work for anything other than charging a small battery but it looks like that's not the case.. I did this only the one time so doing it a lot might burn it up.. I don't know..

by **absolutsnwbrdr** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:32 am

afreegreek wrote:I bought a car charger for my Iphone.. it's a 12v cigarette lighter on one end and a usb port on the other.. no wire, just the plug in part 'cause you use the usb wire that comes with the Iphone.. it was $12.. out of curiosity I tried my LED map light with it and the light worked just fine, then decided to leave it on all night and it was still fine.. I thought that because it was a charger it wouldn't work for anything other than charging a small battery but it looks like that's not the case.. I did this only the one time so doing it a lot might burn it up.. I don't know..

Sounds like you have an adapter similar to the link that Moho posted. Its not a specialized cell phone charger. Its just a 12V car plug with a USB port in the other end. All USB ports are 5VDC. Not sure what map light your talking about though. If it plugs into a USB port, then it runs on 5V. If it plugs into a car accessory outlet, then its 12V.

by **absolutsnwbrdr** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:39 am

Probably never need 3 12V outlets, but this might be an idea to mount somewhere in your camper. Heck, for the price I'm gonna order one for my new build! All you have to do is cut off the 12V plug at the end of the cord, and wire it to your trailers fuse block.

http://www.amazon.com/USB-Port-Triple-S ... _cps_img_c

Down the road, if you decide you want another USB outlet, just get the 12V plug with the USB port and stick it in the 12V outlet.

by **eamarquardt** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:44 am

afreegreek wrote:I bought a car charger for my Iphone.. it's a 12v cigarette lighter on one end and a usb port on the other.. no wire, just the plug in part 'cause you use the usb wire that comes with the Iphone.. it was $12.. out of curiosity I tried my LED map light with it and the light worked just fine, then decided to leave it on all night and it was still fine.. I thought that because it was a charger it wouldn't work for anything other than charging a small battery but it looks like that's not the case.. I did this only the one time so doing it a lot might burn it up.. I don't know..

There is a "standard" for the current that USB ports should be capable of supplying 500ma from a hub port.

A typical cigarette port is fused for 10 amps so I doubt that the little adapters are not capable of putting out the full 500 ma that a typical USB port is.

Cheers,

Gus

by **glenpinpat** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:09 pm

we use a cheap dollar store adapter that plugs into the 12v socket. It has charged every thing we have needed to charge including cell phones, cameras and mp3 players. It has done well for 2 years and I think cost 1 or 2 bucks. Patrick

by **Forrest747** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 4:13 pm

I hadn't even considered 12v sockets for the build. That may be the way to go. I just look at all the phones, kindle, ipod and wifes new nook and they all come with usb that get plugged into other adapters. Was thinking it would be nice to do it so you don't have to have a 12 volt to usb adapter. looking at the one from amazon i found this one and think its the way to go. Its like teh three way splitter but this one does 2 12volt and 2 usb and with the cord can goto the fuse box with no issues.

http://www.amazon.com/Charger-Converter-Splitter-Receiver-MRS152UV-2/dp/B004OZM85M

by **Engineer Guy** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:12 pm

Here's some fun USB 'stuff'...

USB Accessories_1

USB Accessories_2

USB Pole Dancer

The current 'legacy' USB Protocol is for 0.5 Amp to be supplied, as Gus notes. The newest, 'emerging' Spec is for 1.0 Amp to be supplied. Note that the Connector outer Pins are Power. The inner Pins are 'sense' or 'control'; typically not used for Projects posted here.

USB Wiring

I've cut over to Rechargeable Batteries. One neat USB Charger handles 3 x 1.5 VDC Batteries; very handy. 3 AAs is what a lot of Hocky Puck LED el cheapo Lights use. Our Cellphones have a USB end that plugs into the 115 VAC Charger, so they can charge from +5 VDC USB, cutting down on one more Charger when Camping.

Items like my Eton Radio run on 3x AA Batteries. It can be run off of USB +5 VDC via a simple, custom Cable. And, so on...

by **pmowers** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:56 pm

I just came across this in a newsletter. It combines 2 15A outlets and 2 USB charging ports. The nice things are that it can just replace an outlet, and the USB ports have covers that snap closed, also turning off the vampire power drain. It looks good for charging cell phones, ipods and the like.

by **eamarquardt** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:52 pm

pmowers wrote:I just came across this in a newsletter. It combines 2 15A outlets and 2 USB charging ports. The nice things are that it can just replace an outlet, and the USB ports have covers that snap closed, also turning off the vampire power drain. It looks good for charging cell phones, ipods and the like.

http://www.cooperindustries.com/content ... r7740.html

Cheers,

Gus

by **absolutsnwbrdr** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:44 pm

Thats pretty nifty if you're plugged in all the time. But it requires a 110v source, and I'll have access to 12V more often than 110v in my teardrop.

by **eamarquardt** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 12:57 am

absolutsnwbrdr wrote:Thats pretty nifty if you're plugged in all the time. But it requires a 110v source, and I'll have access to 12V more often than 110v in my teardrop.

True.

Except for a heater or a/c I'm not entirely convinced one needs 120 volts.

Cheers,

Gus

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

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